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erinwolf1997's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, War, and Classism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Confinement, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Car accident, Murder, Pregnancy, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug abuse and Drug use
shonaberu's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, and Classism
Minor: Car accident
mirireads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Torture
Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Violence, Police brutality, Car accident, Abortion, Murder, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Animal cruelty, Drug use, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
marenvgl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Genocide, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Car accident, Abortion, and War
mengzhenreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This was just a strange, flavorful, and at times horrifying read that I wasn't expecting at all. The characters are all so interesting in their own way and the generational saga worked extremely well for me. It was funny, it was sad, it was horrifying, and it was super weird and it's definitely a book I'll be thinking about a lot more in the future.
Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Abortion, Death of parent, and War
Minor: Ableism, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, and Car accident
cozylifewithabby's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and War
chlorentine's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
That history is going on in the background of a simple family dynamic, but the writing and the rich imagery throughout keeps you engaged until the politics come into play in the final act. I think the Del Valle/Trueba family is best summarized in the moment Clara tells Alba that all families have at least one member infected with madness, meanwhile their family has the madness spread out evenly amongst them all. Every striking image from the first chapter returns by the end, and so much has happened between the first and last chapter that you feel nostalgia for kinder times alongside the characters. Truly haunting.
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Torture, Violence, Excrement, Abortion, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Police brutality, and Car accident
Minor: Ableism
writingcaia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
At the beginning I felt so disgusted and revolted with the rapes and violence of the man of the family, Esteban Trueba, I almost wanted to quit, but I didn’t because I soon realised this is mostly the story of the strong women of his family, the women that survived him and the evil that he festered with his deeds, and how they tended and healed and suffered. How in a family ruled by this conservative moralist patriot every family member was not, how they diverged, maybe because of their mother, the patriarchs wife, Clara, a clairvoyant, a mystic, a beautiful woman who brought even to the horribly tempered husband a light and hope he did not deserved. But, such is the story of this family that pays for the mistakes of the father, for their bravery, for their giving and romantic hearts, not made for a world like that of their patriarch, and worse even.
A family saga in Chile spanning almost a century, and ending during the violent fascist dictatorship. A hard historical fiction and magical realism tale, but so worth the read due to its writing, and the hope that is born of ashes and love.
I can’t believe this was the debut of one of my fave authors. She was destined to be great from the very beginning.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, War, and Injury/Injury detail
thewordsdevourer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
however, i do find certain details a bit too gory, too many details felt overwhelming and disjointed at times, and estreban has the honor of being one of most detested male literary characters ever--everyone but the stubborn old crone ends up paying for the consequences of his actions, blerggghhh. the political stuff can be both exciting and stressful, and i learned so much abt chilean history that i'll prolly go down a wiki rabbithole after this. this is what i love abt reading translated works: u learn so much abt other places and cultures.
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Car accident, Death of parent, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
kittykaz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Excrement, Police brutality, Medical content, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Infidelity, Grief, Car accident, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
Minor: Addiction, Gun violence, Homophobia, and Vomit
They use a LOT of slurs of all kinds, mostly racial ones